Anion-Controlled Inorganic Materials as Catalysts for Small-Molecule Conversion Reactions

Various catalytic reactions such as water oxidation to O₂ and CO₂ reduction have been achieved using the surfaces of inorganic materials as reaction sites, as exemplified by oxygen-defect-induced reactions in metal oxides. In recent years, anion-controlled post-transition-metal oxide materials have attracted attention. These materials have been shown to exhibit unique reactivity that cannot be achieved with oxides because of the effect of paired anion species coexisting with oxide anions. They have also been shown to enable highly difficult reactions because of the surface and reaction properties resulting from the molecular nature of the anion species. This Perspective reports on recent developments in small-molecule conversion reactions catalyzed by anion-controlled inorganic materials.